Plymouth mayor puts ‘exhausting’ campaign in past at inauguration

BY JACQUELINE STOUGHTON
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Sen. Henri Martin, R-Bristol, gives the oath of office to the elected Plymouth Town Council members Sunday. Jacqueline Stoughton/Republican-Americancutline attribution name:Jacqueline Stoughton Republican-American Plymouth Mayor David V. Merchant is sworn in for a third term Sunday.Plymouth Mayor David V. Merchant explains what his goals are for his third term during inauguration ceremonies Sunday. Jacqueline Stoughton/Republican-AmericanPlymouth Mayor David V. Merchant thanks his family, team and friends for their continued support throughout the campaign season Sunday. Jacqueline Stoughton/Republican-American

PLYMOUTH – After an exhausting campaign, Mayor David V. Merchant is ready to start working toward new goals as he begins his third term.

“This was a particularly difficult four months for me. We made up our minds in July to do this, and when I compete, I compete to win and leave it all on the field,” Merchant said in front of family, friends and supporters during his inauguration ceremony Sunday. “I sacrificed time with my family. I’ve never been so mentally and physically exhausted. It’s time to start focusing on the good.”

Sen. Henri Martin, R-Bristol, and Rep. Whit Betts, R-Bristol, were present at Terryville High School auditorium to swear Merchant and all other elected officials into office.

After thanking his family, friends, team and community members for their support, Merchant explained his top priorities and goals going into Merchant explained his top priorities and goals going into his third term since first being elected to office in 2013.

“I’m going to focus my attention on downtown and start trying to secure money to clean up the Mayfair Garage,” Merchant said. “My goal by the end of this term is to find something new and something nice to put on that property that the town will support.”

Merchant said his top goals are to finish the expansion and renovation of the Main Street firehouse, begin construction to convert the abandoned Prospect Street school to apartments, and develop a feasible plan to expand the police department.

“It’s time to focus on moving forward. We have accomplished so much over the past four years,” Merchant said.

Merchant mentioned the three anonymous fliers that circulated the community toward the end of campaign season, alleging illegal business done by him and Town Council members having to do with road repair projects and the expansion and renovation of the Main Street firehouse.

“So much hate had taken place these past four months, I can’t wrap my mind around spending thousands of dollars on fliers. As a human being, that hurt and was difficult to go through,” Merchant said. “When I think about all the thousands of dollars spent on hate and I think about what that money could’ve gone toward, like the food pantry or fuel fund, something good in the community. We need to focus on the good in Plymouth, this is a great place to live.”

Merchant also offered some advice to the other elected officials, reminding them that the decisions they make affect the lives of all residents and to always vote for what’s in the best interest of the community.

“We need to work together to make everything move forward,” Merchant said. “We want Plymouth to be a better town when we leave than when we arrived.”